Slow Joe

Hello friends,

I have been a very busy man these days. I am working three jobs in preparation for Novemeber. In November I will be leaving for two weeks of missionary training. The time is drawing very nigh for me. Soon I will be raising support for becoming a full time missionary. Then it's off to do missionary stuff

What does a missionary do? Good questions, they do lots of things. What will I do as a missionary? Now that's a question I can answer.

I work with a team of fine individuals who will use the arts as a way to reach people with Gospel of CHRIST, disciple followers of CHRIST, and reach artists to show them that the arts have a valuable role in the GOD'S work within the world.

more to come,

love..
a servant of JESUS CHRIST,
Joe W Hartsell Jr

Dinner is meant to be shared

Hello friends.

Tonight the art of the following team is being honored with a dinner guest. We are all very excited to be able to sit down and get to know this person better. Her name is Meredith Landphair. She is a very talented artist and a very cool person. We met her at the art fest that we were a part of a few weekends ago.

One Of the things we as a ministry feel is important is to build relationships with people. JESUS prayed that we would be one even as he is one with his FATHER. you simply cannot do this without spending time with people and getting to know them and allowing them to get to know you. One way the team plans to do this is through taking time to take people to dinner. Dinner is meant to be shared.....with the people you value. Another way we plan to build relationships is through throwing art parties. More to come on that in the future.

We are very excited to have met Meredith and we are thrilled that she would take the time to have dinner with some.....people like us. I asked Meredith if I could post a link to her web site on this blog. I really think you should check it out. take a lok around at some of her work it is marvelous. Her vision and passion is also very fantastic. In her own words let me share with you what her passion and vision is.

" My passion is for the body. I believe that it is Gods most beautiful creation and that each of us is a mirror of a small part of Him. One of my goals is to open people's eyes to the beauty of themselves and to help people understand how amazing, beautiful, and sacred they are. I'm not quite sure what that means yet or how that vision will play out but that's my passion."

Is that not the coolest passion in all the land. It is very inspiring and worthy of pursuit. Sp please feel free to follow the link below and see some of her work.

http://www.freewebs.com/meres_lair/morephotos.htm

You may have to copy and paste that link.....so sorry.

much love,
a servant of JESUS CHRIST,
Joe W Hartsell Jr

long time .....no blog

dearest readers,

So sorry for absence.

There has been a war waging on in the life of Joe. However, with GOD'S help I have come through victoriously.

Much would try to keep me from pursuing my life as a missionary. But have no fear friends, it cannot be stopped. For what GOD wills happens. The truth is GOD longs for men and women everywhere to be close to him, to understand him, and to grow in their relationship to him.

The art ministry is a very effective way for this happen. What better way for us to better know the creator then through the excersise of creativity. And this is what the art ministry is all about. Through various projects we study the scripture and then share what we have learned through artistic expression.

I am currently on the road to becoming fulltime in this mission. I have a few very important steps ahead of me. The first step is Candidate orientation in November. After this step I can begin raising support for full time service. I need your help. If you can help through a one time financial gift to help me get to Candidate Orientation it would really help speed things up. We believe in the power of art guided by the power of the word of GOD to make disciples and teach them all things that JESUS has showed us. The sooner I can devote myself fulltime to this endevour the sooner we can see more disciples made.

If you would like to know more about the art ministry and it's team of artistic missionaries, please feel free to contact me. We can do lunch and chat.

more blogs to come soon. Once again, sorry for my long absence.

a servant fo JESUS CHRIST,
Joe W Hartsell Jr

Point of Hope Church

Hello Friends,

As some of you may know I am helping with a church plant in Truro Iowa. I thought I would share with you a little blurb I wrote up for the website.

The quote

“What the world offers is shallow and complex. What GOD offers is simple and deep.”
- Mr. Rogers

The blurb

“It’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood. It’s a beautiful day for your neighbor.”

The words above were the theme song to Mr. Roger’s neighborhood. What I admire about Mr. Rogers is he believed that it could be a beautiful day in the neighborhood and for his neighbor. He lived to try to make the theme song of his show a reality.

Those of us at point of hope church realize that for many of us a beautiful day in the neighborhood is not always the reality of our lives. However, we also know that it can be and should be. So what does it take to make a beautiful day in the neighborhood and for your neighbor?

We believe that it takes an effort on our part to try to improve the quality of life of those around us. It is so tempting to think that in order to improve the quality we must focus on improving our own lives. The true key to seeing the quality of life improve is to seek to improve the quality of life of those around you. As you do you find the quality of your life also improves.

Secondly, and most importantly, we believe that we must look to GOD in order to have a beautiful day in the neighborhood. It is true there are many problems in the world today. It is equally true that many people have problems that threaten the beautiful day in the neighborhood. These problems are not as complex as we may think. GOD knows everything, so when we turn to him seeking change for ourselves we discover a simple solution to life problems in CHRIST JESUS. This enables us to then seek to improve the quality of life of those around.

Point of Hope church wants to be known as a church whose contribution to the community helps to improve the quality of life of those who live there. We want to do our part to improve the quality of life of those around us. In order that regardless of the problems and trials our community may face those within can wake each day with peace in there hearts and the attitude that they can make a difference. We want to play our part in helping others to say…..

“It’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood, a beautiful day for your neighbor, could you be mine? Would you mine? Won’t you be my neighbor?”




a servant of JESUS CHRIST,
Joe W Hartsell Jr

art in the park

hello friends,

Just wanted to post a quick blog to update everyone on what is going on. I am meeting the president of crossworld today for lunch to discuss my future as a local missionary of crossworld who will be a teacher within the art as discipleship ministry. It is very exciting stuff.

We are currently preparing for our next art as discipleship project. It is called art in the park. It will be an event for the community to come and buy art from local artist, listen to music, and watch a painting in action. We will be doing the painting portion of the event.

We will meet with artist over the month of july to learn the 23rd psalm. The 23rd psalm will be the content of our painting. We will learn from this psalm who we are, who GOD is, and how we should relate to GOD. After three mettings of studying the passage the artist will then decide what they want to portray through the painting. They will then brainstorm what to paint and how to go about painting it. They will have a day of practice painting the piece. then they will paint it live at art and the park.

we are very excited about this project and believe it will be a growing experience for everyone involved.

thanks everyone for your support. we love you.

a servant of JESUS CHRIST,
Joe W Hartsell Jr

the art ministry

Hello Friends,

So I am not going to France. However, something much bigger has resulted as a result of staying here in Iowa. We will be continuing the art as discipleship ministry here in the states. What will this ministry look like? Well, it will be much bigger than we thought.

To begin with we will develope the art as discipleship ministry by doing art as isciplship projects with local artists. Through these projests we hope to reach unbelivers with the truth that they were made by a creator whom they can know personally. Secondly we hope to reach new believers with a a deeper understanding of who GOD is and who they are in Him. Thirdly we seek to deepen relationships with CHRIST and show how artist can use their gifts and talents to serve CHRIST and reach out to others.

As we fine tune the arts ministry we will then become a training center where people can come and learn how to incorporate the art as dicipleship into their ministries and cultures. We will host missionaries from afar, and host churches and artist within the area through art as disciplship seminars.

We also plan to be a sending team. What I mean by this is we want to raise up artist here who will be sent into missions fields all around the world to use the art as discipleship ministry to reach people for CHRIST.

It is all very exciting.

I am currently in the process of preparing for candidate orientation which will take place in November. Front here I will begin raising support for the ministry. As I prepare I will continue to be involved in the various art projects.

in my next blog I will describe what my role in this ministry will be.

a servant of JESUS CHRIST,
Joe W Hartsell Jr

coming soon...update on "art as discipleship ministry"

hello Friends,

After some time in waiting the ball is rolling once again for the "art as disciplship ministry. I must say, "it has been worth the wait. For something bigger than we first imagined has begun".

It is late and I must be going to bed. However, I will be back soon to update you on changes in the ministry, my involvement, and how you can pray for and support me in this adventure.

Until then please follow the link of team members Kevin and Pat Mayer to find out more about this ministry. I will be back soon to update you all on what is happening.

A servant of JESUS CHRIST,
Joe W Hartsell Jr

Psalm 102

I read this psalm tonight and it has helped me.

Psalm 102

Hear my prayer, O LORD, and let my cry come unto thee.
Hide not thy face from me in the day when I am in trouble;
incline thine ear unto me:in the day when I call answer me speedily.
For my days are consumed like smoke, and my bones are burned as an hearth.
My heart is smitten, and withered like grass; so that I forget to eat my bread.
By reason of the voice of my groaning my bones cleave to my skin.
I am like a pelican of the wilderness:
I am like the owl of the desert.
I watch, and am as a sparrow alone on the house top.
Mine enemies reproach me all the day;
and they that are mad against me are sworn against me.
For I have eaten ashes like bread, and mingled my my drink with weeping.
because thine indignation and thy wrath;
for thou hast lifted me up, and cast me down.
My days are like a shadow that declineth; I am withered like grass
But thou, O LORD, shall endure forever;
and thy remembranceunto all generations.
Thou shalt rise, and have mercy upon zion
for the time to favor her, yea, the set time, has come.
for thy servants take pleasure in her stones,
and favor the dust thereof.
so the heathen shall fear the name of the LORD,
and all the kings of the earth thy glory.
When the LORD shall build up zion, he shall appear in his glory.
He will regard the prayer of the destitute,
and not despise their prayer.
This shall be written for the generation to come:
and the people which shall be created shall praise the LORD.
For HE has looked down from the height of HIS santuary;
From heaven did the LORD behold the earth;
to hear the groaning of the prisoner;
to loose those that are appointed unto death;
to declare the name of the LORD in zion
and his praise in jerusalum;
when the people are gathered together,
and the kingdoms, to serve the LORD.
He weakened my strength in the way, he shortened my days.
I said, O my GOD take me not away in the midst of my days.
thy years are throughout all generations
Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth.
and the heavens are the work of your hands.
they shall perish, but thou shalt endure.
yea, all of them wax old like a garment;
as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed
but thou art the same, and thy years have no end.
the children of your servants shall continue,
and their seed shall be established befor thee

The Creation

The following is just a little thing I dreamed up in my head. It is written from the view point of Adam. It is about the creation of Eve. I took some great liberties in writing. While some aspects of the following did actually occur alot of it did not. It is just a little something I dreamed up to try and capture what Adam might of thought when he saw Eve for the first time. Or what Adam might of thought if he had had the chance to see Eve being created.

I felt the heavy gentle hand that I had come to know so well touch me upon the shoulder.
"It's time to rest my Adam, it is time to rest" He spoke

My eyes became heavy and the air around me began to thicken. I lowered my self toward the ground below me. I laid on my back and stretched out in an attempt to regain my composer and consciousness. In no time at all I drifted completly away.

I could see my self laying there. It felt as if my spirit was no longer in my body. I could see the hand of the only one I had ever known place his hand upon my rib. My side opened and one of my rib bones was removed. He placed his hand on my side again and I was completly healed. I was so confused as to what was going on.

I seen the one who I had come to know as Creator walk to a place of dusty ground. With the rib bone he began to draw. Like small waves, the dust rolled around the bone as it carved its way through the dirt. An outline of a figure appeared. a figure much like mine.

The Creator then began to pour dust and dirt inside the outline He had drawn. He then took his rough and gentle hands and began to push and mold the dust within the outline he had drew. A smile was upon his face as he methodically molded the figure into something three demensional. The more the Creator molded the more joy I could see in his eyes.

He stepped back away from the mold He had created in the dust. It was something like me; only different. It had no life but it had a form. It's body had features I had never seen before. The creator had made another masterpiece.

The creator smiled. Closed his eyes and took in a deep breath. He then leaned over the dust frame he had made. Then he exhaled slowly and purposfully as if to breath life into the dust he had formed. I soon discovered that was exactly what He was doing.

For a moment nothing happened. Then the dust form jolted. It's chest thrusted upward into the air. Dust flew into the air off of the form. It relaxed and rested back to the ground. Then thrusted it's chest into the air once again. I heard it inhale. Drawing in the air around it. As the dust settled I noticed the once dust frame was now a frame of flesh.

it was beautifull, I could not stop from starring. It sat up, and the creator breathed on the creation one more time to blow the remaining dust from it's new body. The Creator smiled and the creationed smiled back at Him.

I then felt myself being pulled back into my sleeping body, but I did not want to leave this new creation. I was so confused about what was going on.

Then I awoke. I sat up quickly to see if the new creation was still there. I grasped at my side then looked up. And there it was. There she was. She was marvelous, stunning, and beautifull. She smiled at me and I knew, we were made for each other. And as I would care for myself, so I would care for her.

and that has always been my favorite part of creation.
thank you, oh my great Creator.




a servant of JESUS CHRIST,
Joe W Hartsell Jr

Smile on Me

King, Priest, The Prophet
hauled off to Golgotha.
Not just the loss of a SAVIOUR,
loss of a FATHER.

Why did you bother lobbying for slobs like us?
who mock such an honest and modest portrayal of love
I don't stop dwelling.

concentrate on these thoughts often enough.
on the cross, and the blood, on the loss and the monsterous cuts
on the thorny crown, that bore down on your brow
on the scorn in the morning, insuing the morning after crowds
and swarms yelling Barabus, drown out the vioce of reason

insignificant people, so wicked and evil
leading you bleeding and pleading down the via de la rosa
LORD you bore shame,and reproach, you were cursed by most men
hurt by the curse words, you were born in a stable to save

from the cradle to the grave all we've made is mistakes
kicked in the face, hit, smitten and spit upon
my tears fall on the scripture that your future was written on

so called heretic, bare naked and shaking
buckled knees caving in, caused by the tree in a shape of a T
nails breaking the skin you were taking our sin
and placing it in the palm of your hand for all men

you could of said "take me away, I don't want to stay,
take some other man on some other day. in some other way"
blood dwindled away,life withered away,noone else willing to pay

you could of said "GOD this hurts so much, this burden is so tough
I'm flirtin with death touch."
but you came, touched lives and died lonely
and you died lonely, just to smile on me

is it the rain that stains my face or tears?
have I been right here for five minutes or five years?
I can't seem to move my feet, I can't breath
can't seem to leave this tree, can't believe it's not me

it should of been my likes, crucified with spikes
my wrists, cold as ice and lifeless
alone and silent, only mother crying
but instead that's what CHRIST did
came in human form, and was born and scorn by people in his likeness

despite this he made wrongs right, shed light
forever the blessed protector of my life, giver of sight
finally, one moves, then another, then another
I better take cover, cause thunder was hovering over
the suffering is over, so is the battle, now the curtian splits in two
JESUS I'll miss you...JESUS I'll miss you

I deserve the cross, but you knew it had to be this way
had it been me that day I would of said "take me away"
you could of said, "take me away, I don't want to stay,
take some other man on some other day. in some other way"
blood dwindled away,life withered away,noone else willing to pay

you could of said "GOD this hurts so much, this burden is so tough
I'm flirtin with death touch."
but you came, touched lives and died lonely
and you died lonely, just to smile on me

2,000 years later, your still debated, and your hated
invaded,and naked, and veined for the fakest
naysayers ashamed of their daily charade
they masqueraide, and dissarray and then parade you to feel safe

by saying your not able, and the bible is fable
they lable it as a faith brace for the wavering and unstable
saying your words are trite bits of written fiction
and that you existance was mythical,LORD that makes me bitter, i admit it

they call it hypocritical liturature
but the hypocrites the one that stare back at them in the mirror
each day on city pavements, they cast lots for your raiment
as though your slow death on the tree was an inadequite payment

amazing grace was elliminated from the equation
we're just a faceless nation, slowly becoming a waste land
but though the walls of the world crumble around me
i'll stay in the same place you found me, and pray that you surround me

you could of said, "take me away, I don't want to stay,
take some other man on some other day. in some other way"
blood dwindled away,life withered away,noone else willing to pay

you could of said "GOD this hurts so much, this burden is so tough
I'm flirtin with death touch."
but you came, touched lives and died lonely
and you died lonely, just to smile on me

What I learned in Church today

I feel lead to post this blog. I believe GOD want to speak to someone through it. So here we go....

today's topic was forgiveness.

we learned three action steps we need to take in regards to forgiveness.

first step: suffering. this is the hardest step. because usually we try to push the suffering down. but we must let it out. for only when we let it out can we deal with it. only as we allow ourselves to feel the pain can we pin point exactly what we are forgiving. it also reveals our need for healing..which begins with revealing the pain that someones wrong has caused us.

second step: surgery. this step is about removing the bitterness and pain that the wrong doer has caused us. this step is about removing that which will keep us in our silent suffering. this is done as we look at the wrong done, and without belittling the wrong done or excusing the wrong doer. we choose to forgive them for the sin they have done. this is done first in the presence of GOD. then if needed the forgiveness can be extended to the offender. forgiving someone does not meen you have to stay in an abusive or harmful situation where more harm can be done. Forgiveness does not remove all the consequences of the wrong doers actions. Forgiveness means that you have chosen to punish them no more for thier offence. it means you release the bitterness you have toward them. it means you change from wanting them dead to hoping that they will better thier lives. forgiveness is about moving from praying they are punished to praying they will experience healing themselves.

third step. starting over. this step allow for forgivness to reach it's completed state. as unforgiveness and bitterness flee through the act of forgiveness. One finds that the suffering also begins leave. and healing begins. during this step we now fill the place in us where the pain and resentment was with love and concern. we fill ourselves up with GOD'S love and a purpose for the future. we move from hurting to starting over. we go from hurting to holding the hurting.

one last thing..this is the part I really felt GOD wanted me to write. In the bible their is a passage where the writer is instructing a church about forgiving someone within their church that had done some wrong. the passgae says this.

"you need to forgive him, and comfort him, otherwise he will be swallowed up with excessive sorrow"

I feel that someone is going to read this blog who is very sorrowfull for some wrongs they have done. you feel like you are being swallowed up. you feel your swallow is eating you alive inside and you are struggling to make a change. I believe GOD wants me to tell you

that he forgive you.

You are forgiven, pardoned, released.

GOD forgives you.

GOD wants you to just rest in his arms for a while. so go to him. and find rest and healing.

I love you all.

a servant of JESUS CHRIST,
Joe W Hartsell Jr

All that you have is your soul

this song is so beautiful. the words, her voice, the guitar. it's just beautifull. and it is ooh so true.

love you all.

The calling

I am preparing for a message about how we find our calling in life. How do we discover what the purpose is for our life?

During this message I want to look at several people from the bible and discover how they found their calling in life. In order to see if we may be able to learn something from them.

The first person I wanted to look at is Joseph. His story can be found in Genesis chapters 37-to preaty much the end of the book.

early in josephs life he recieves a dream from GOD that reveals that he would reighn over his family some day. needless to say his brothers were not real found of this. it probably did not help that Joseph was excited about the calling he had discovered.

as the story develops Joseph life seems to go anyway but what the calling suggested. and even when the calling is realized Joseph discovers the calling is so much more than he origionally thought.

Joseph life spirals out of control when his brothers conspire to kill him because of envy. One brother decides that they probably sould not kill him. so the sell him into slavery. From there Joseph is sent to egypt.

so joseph has suffered a great betrayal by the ones who are suppose to love him most. It is easy when we read a story such as this to seperate ourselves from how Joseph must have felt. This had to rip his heart right out. I am sure it made him mad, confused, sad, etc.

from there Joseph is sexually harrassed by his masters wife. In an attempt to do what is right he is framed and accused of trying to rape her. He is then thrown in jail, and more pain is added to the life of Joseph.

joseph is thn betrayed by a man he helps get out of jail. the man forgets to mention that Joseph should be released to and thus Joseph is left to rot in jail. I am thinking that Joseph is probably really wondering what happen to his calling. why does his life suck so much?

then one day the ruler of egypt has a dream. joseph who is able to interpret dreams through GOD's help is summoned. he tells the ruler that seven years of good harvest are coming after that seven years of famine are coming. He advices the ruler to store up food during the years of pleanty so that they can survive the years of famine.

the ruler like joseph so much that he placed him in charge of the whole thing. one day his brothers were sent to egypt to ask for food because the famine was so bad.
Joseph recognized his brothers, but they did not recognize him.

long story short one day he reveals to his brothers who he is. but rather than revenge he offers forgiveness to them. it is important to realize that this was a healing moment for Joseph. and it was not easy. but it lead him to the fulfillment of his calling.

here is what the bible says happened. " then Joseph could not refrain himself before all the people and he cried. he asked everyman to leave, and there he stood alone with his brothers to make himself known to them. and he wept aload and the egyptians could hear it and joseph said to his brothers "I am joseph, does my father still live?" and his brothers were silencesd and troubled by his presence.
and joseph said to his brothers, come close to me. "do not be grieved or angry, you sold me into slavery, GOD has sent me here to preserve your lives."

soemtimes are calling is found in healing from our wounds. soemthing to notice is in order to heal we must let the pain out. we need to talk about it and cry. just cry. we cannot keep the pain inside or it will destroy us. we must give our wounds to GOD and ask him to heal us. then comes the second part, we must follow GOD as he directs us because he knows the pathway to our healing. Joseph needed to forgive his brothers and he did.

he came to realize that his calling was found in healing from his wounds. he also discovered that his calling was not about ruling over his brothers, it was about loving and caring for them. Joseph knew the importance of love and the effects of being denied it. he had been battered and bruised. and as he healed he gained the calling and power to answer his calling. a calling to be one force in this world that will fight the evil that batters and bruises us by being a force of love who cares and provides, and loves us. his calling was to be a source of life in a world of pain. this calling was found in the healing of his wounds.

I know some of my readers are hurting alot. GOD has a great calling for you. lets heal together so we may be free. the next step is the most important as you seek your calling. our calling is found in GOD, because he is our healer. so make your next step one's that lead to him.

a servant of JESUS CHRIST,
Joe W Hartsell Jr

i was wondering

Sometimes I wish that love

was something you could package

into a box and tie it up with a bow

or put it into a card or something like that



Then you could just give it to who ever you wanted

and you would know if they recieved it

and/or if they were impacted by the love

that you gave to them



And sometimes I wonder if the love we gave away is felt

by those we give it to

I wonder if love is understood by those who recieve it

the same way it was meant to be understood by those who give it



Sometimes I sit and think about the love I have recieved

and I wonder if those who gave me that love

know how much I appreciate it.

I wonder if they know how it has brought goodness to my life



Sometimes I wonder if those who make fun of love

know what they are making fun of

do they know what they are missing out on

sometimes I wonder if those who are busy being tough

realize there is nothing tougher than love.

for it conquers everything.



Sometimes I wonder if we know what love is

it is not lust, nor should it be compared to it

for love is what it is

even when we call things that are not love, love

love remains true to itself, for it comes from GOD

who cannot be anything but himself, GOD changes not

love changes not



Sometimes I am glad that love cannot be packed up

and wrapped with a bow

or put into a card.

because love is too big for this.


It was never meant to be contained

but it was meant to be given away

just as much as it was meant to be recieved





a servant of JESUS CHRIST,

Joe W Hartsell Jr

sooo...yeah

Hello friends,

I plan to write on a more regular basis here on the cup of joe blog. It has been a while since I have posted anything. I have been waiting on some information before posting anything new.

so in the fututre I will share with you some updates as to what is Going on in my world in regards to missions, preparation, and my daily journey with GOD.

Also I have had many teaching oppurtunities lately. I hope to start posting blogs about the lessons I am teaching.

so Until then please feel free to visit the links on the right hand side. Also feel free to visist the random Joe thoughts link. I have been posting a few things on that blog.

thanks everybody.

please check out the prayer requests.

a servant of JESUS CHRIST
Joe W Hartsell Jr

Come and see

hello friends,

As you know we recently gathered three artist together for a discipleship/art project.

the project was a smashing success. we learned alot, we laughed alot, they painted alot, and Pat and Kevin edited alot.

follow the link below to see the two videos that were created as a result of all the hard work.

http://www.nightmayer.com/13.html (<---you will have to copy and paste that address)

thanks for your support.

a servant of JESUS CHRIST,
Joe W Hartsell Jr

You should of been there

well friends,

we finished the art project today. Might I say I think it was a huge success. we learned so much about the passage that was painted. we also had a great time painting and watching people paint.

please take some time and look at the links for Kevin and pat; and Chad and traci. they covered the project in thier blogs. you can access their blogs through the links. take some time and look at the pictures and get to know the artist who were involved.

it was great.

a servant of JESUS CHRIST,
Joe W Hartsell Jr

"should we call down fire from heaven?"

On Thursday those of us from the France team that could be present met with three artist to begin our art project. It was a great time. We spent time studying Luke 9:51-62. This passage will be the focus of the art project.

What is this art project that I speak of? Well, three artist are going to paint the story of Luke 9:51-62. We will be tapping this painting as the painting will change many times throughout the process in order to progressivly tell the story. We will then compile the taped footage and create a video.

As we meet to plan and paint we also try our best to learn all we can from this story. we are asking ourselves.

1.) what does this story really say.
2.) what is GOD trying to teach me
3.) what is GOD asking of me

We had a great time on thursday as we tried to understand the passage we hope to tell through artistic expression. the running joke of the night was how the disciples sometimes just don't get it. (much like we don't always get it) and much like the disciples in the story we try to call down fire from heaven. So we enjoyed the runnng joke of "fire from Heaven"

Learning is fun. Following JESUS is worth it. no matter what the cost.

I am enjoying the process so far. I am learning much. I very much enjoy using my creativity and watching others use there.

the project continues on. more to come...

a servant of JESUS CHRIST,
Joe W Hartsell Jr

Discipleship, What's that?

What is Discipleship? Is it a class, a seminar, or a one on one accountability relationship? What is discipleship? This is a question any believer should know how to answer.

It is important to know what discipleship is because JESUS calls us to be his disciples. To be a disciple is to be a learner. More then just a learner; a disciple is a learner who seeks to become like their master.

Thus, to be a disciple of CHRIST means you learn from him and follow him, and seek to be like him. This is why true discipleship cannot take place in just a class room, or in a seminar, or a one on one accountability relationship.

Discipleship must be something that involves your every day life. Nothing is insignificant as a disciple of CHRIST. Every day, every moment, and every activity is discipleship for the disciple of CHRIST.

Further more, for true discipleship to take place one must be learning from their master. As a disciple of CHRIST one must have CHRIST as their teacher. This is not to say that you can not learn from others, but it is to say you must never substitute what others can teach you for what JESUS can teach you. Keep in mind that JESUS will use a number of things to teach you and mold you to be like him.

Our team believes that the life of a disciple is fluid and organic. We believe discipleship can happen in all areas of life. This is why we believe creativity and artistic expression is so important in life.

In light of these things we are organizing our first "art and discipleship" project. This first project will be low key but still highly impactful.

In my next blog I will explain the project in more detail. your comments and questions are welcomed. I will gladly respond and answer any questions. Stay tuned for more on the project and the lessons we will be learning.

a servant of JESUS CHRIST,
Joe W Hartsell Jr

uuuuummmmm, Yeah!

Hello friends,

I do appologize for not having more to say lately in regards to the journey in missions. truth be told I am still very much in a waiting stage. I hope to hear back from crossworld soon in regards to my application. (Crossworld is the missions agency the France team is being sent by) Further more we are awaiting news as to Pat's tremors. (Feel free to visit their blog through the link provided). So I have been living life to the fullest as I wait.

As we wait we are working on putting together our first art project to be done here in Iowa. We figure, "Why wait to use the arts as an expression of our GOD given ability to create, and as a vehicle by which we may meet or better know our creator."

I will post a blog soon to describe this in more detail...

so I do not have much to say tonight, but i wanted to let you know I am still alive and kicking. Well, my fingers do not seem to want to cooperate with keyboard. Or maybe it is the keyboard that is being uncooperative. So I think I am going to say goodbye for now.

a servant of JESUS CHRIST,
Joe W Hartsell Jr

In the meantime please feel free to browse the blog links.

The adventure of missions Part two

"What? I have to wait?"



Sometimes the adventure of missions can be like a young child realizing they can not have what they want right away. Yes, the adventure of missions involves some waiting, some preparations, some waiting, some training, some more waiting; you get the point. However we need not be discouraged by this. On the other, we can enjoy it.

If you think about it, every adventure contains this element of preparation and waiting. Just recall to your mind any adventure/action movie you have ever seen. In these movies there is always a series of short clips that usually pass by quickly to the backdrop of some motivational music. These scenes are the preparation/waiting scenes of the adventure movie. In these scenes you see years of martial arts training in 3 minutes. You might also see a clan of individuals cross the country in seconds.

In real life we are not allowed to put this phase of the adventure into a fast forward motion picture. In real life we must engage in the preparation and waiting of the adventure in which we a partaking. It does us good to realize that this is just as much part of the adventure as is the high adrenaline action packed part is.

This is where I am in my adventure. I have been in this phase of my adventure for some time. Yet without this part I would not be prepared for what comes next. Furthermore, It is within the preparation/waiting that I find the adventure is in the now. As I wait and prepare for the adventures of tomorrow I must engage in the adventure of missions that is available today. I can engage in the missions of today by telling others today about who CHRIST is and what he has done. I can love others today, serve others today, prepare for future adventures today. Today, I can wait because that is part of the adventure too. There is a time and for everything.

a servant of JESUS CHRIST,
Joe W Hartsell Jr

The adventure of Missions

"Now listen, you who say, "today or tommorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money". Why, you do not even know what will happen tommorrow. What is your life? You are a mist, that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, "if it is the LORD'S will, we will live and do this or that." - James 4:13-15

" In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD directs his steps" -Proverbs 16:9

The adventure of Missions is a mission we all should participate in. At the heart of missions is a heart for wanting to share with others what JESUS has done for them. I find it interesting that the passage most use to describe missions starts out with "go into all the world..." It is said that the word translated "go" is best translated "as you are going"

As the different members of the French team work on getting to France to do the work of missions there they are also doing the work of missions now. Missions is not about destination as much as it is about sharing the gospel as you go. A destination is of importance because it helps one focus on a group of people. It allows one to become focused on the mission as well as allows them to focus thier love toward a group of people. Thus, destination is important, because it helps define who to aim love at and love is the purest motive for sharing the gospel.

So here we are as a team planning to go to France. We rest assured that we will arrive there if the LORD is willing. Some may ask? How do you know it is the LORD'S will? That my friends is a great question. To which I will answer with this, We pray, We read, and we listen to the HOLY SPIRIT. We then make choices based on what we discern. Then we travel in that direction and we trust that the LORD will direct our steps. And if what we thought was the destination is not the LORD'S will then we know that every step "as we are going" was designed to bring us to the right destination. Furthermore, every moment "as we are going" provides us with the oppurtunity of missions.

That my friend is the adventure of missions. It is not always sure, but GOD is sure and so is the heart of Missions. The beauty of missions is that when we are following GOD we will always be in his will, because he directs our steps. In our heart we make the plans, and GOD directs our ways. As we are going, the adventure of missions unfolds and the work of missions takes place.

Much love to you all.
The adventure continues

a servant of JESUS CHRIST
Joe W Hartsell Jr